Deborah Whaley, Professor of English and African American Studies, was chosen for the HistoryMakers 2021 Faculty Innovation in Pedagogy and Teaching Fellowship.

Victor Ray, Assistant Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, published an article in October 2020 in the Washington Post titled "Trump calls critical race theory ‘un-American.’ Let’s review."

Alfred Martin, Jr., Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and African American Studies, published an article in April 2021 in the Los Angeles Review of Books titled, "Negotiating the Generic Closet in the Writers' Room."

On Tuesday, July 27, 2021, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and African American Studies, will be performing in Des Moines, IA at Hoyt Sherman Place as part of Jazz in July: The Syndicate.

Louise Seamster, Assistant Professor of Sociology and African American Studies, has been named a Member of the Diversity Scholars Network, a scholarly community committed to advancing understandings of historical and contemporary social issues related to identity, difference, culture, representation, power, oppression, and inequality — as they occur and affect individuals, groups, communities, and institutions.

Ashley Howard, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies, was presented the Faculty Communicating Ideas Award, an award that recognizes excellence in communication about research and scholarship in the sciences and humanities and the study of creative, visual and performing arts to a general audience directly or via print and electronic media.

Richard Turner, Professor of Religious Studies and African American Studies, joined Dr. Mark Anthony Neal on his podcast Left of Black to discuss the culture and music of Black New Orleans.

T.J. Dedeaux-Norris, Assistant Professor of Art and African American Studies, had an exhibit at the Figge Art Museum (Davenport, IA), titled "T.J. Dedeaux-Norris Presents The Estate of Tameka Jenean Norris," which ran from October 24, 2020 - January 31, 2021.